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Oxford study proves heat pumps triumph over fossil fuels in the cold (www.nationalobserver.com)

submitted 1 year ago by L4s to c/technology

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Oxford study proves heat pumps triumph over fossil fuels in the cold::Published Monday in the scientific journal Joule, the research found that heat pumps are two to three times more efficient than their oil and gas counterparts, specifically in temperatures ranging from 10 C to -20 C.

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[–] alvvayson 50 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Your mini-split isn't designed to function as a heat pump at low temperature.

In places like Sweden, they also use heatpumps that are designed for those conditions.

In other news, don't drive in a Swedish winter with summer tires.

[–] DarthBueller 36 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Excellent. Now I know that there are different classes of heat pump. Mine is not for prolonged crazy-low temps, others are. Thank you.

[–] alvvayson 24 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Indeed, but yours is probably cheaper and more effective at cooling when it's hot and humid out.

For people up north, they will buy a "cold climate air source heat pump". In temperate regions, an "air source heat pump" will suffice, while down south you will buy an "A/C with a heating mode" (also called reversible A/C).

And it's not just about whether the coils can defrost. The whole machinery and refrigerant are different to optimize under those conditions. A cold climate heat pump has a setup that is more similar to a freezer than it is to an A/C.

Sorry about the downvotes. People need to re-learn internet etiquette.

[–] DarthBueller 10 points 1 year ago

This is the most informative answer yet. Thanks.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

Thanks for spreading correct knowledge, as someone who works for a manufacturer of heat pumps it's refreshing

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I have never seen so many winter tires, and studded winter tires, as I did on my trip to Sweden last winter.

I think they are mandatory there.